davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Connecticut western news., 1887-12-21
TERRIFIC BOILER EXPLOSION.
The Edison Works in West Chester,
 Pa, Blown Up.

Five persons were killed and as many moro injured by the explosion of one of the boilers in the works of tGe Edison Electric Il uminat- ing Company: The killed arc T. Walter Elm bree, superintendent of the works, head blown off and body badly crushed: Elwood Beckett, colored bod carrier, body terribly scalded and crushed; Mary Jones, school girl, fourteen years of age struck on the head by plank and died instantly; Samnel Webb, a coored laborer and John Bradley, colored labore:.
 The injured are: Edward Schotield, q lum- herman. badly scaided and crushed, injured internally, and will die; Fr ink kinnan, a lum- herman, scalded about the face and slighl' bruised William Richardson. fireman, scala ed and cut on the heal; Jacob Brown, labor CT. seven cuts on the head; William Ali on, a Taylor, Clerk of the Courts and several workmen whose names are not known, are missing.
 The explosion was terrific. For squares away the houses were shaken and windows broken. The big building was almost demol- ished, and large pieces of iron machinery were thrown hundreds of feet in the air. Many bricks and pieces of iron and wood w-re found several squares away. Before the smoke and steam had half cleared away the tall and heavy smokestack fell with a crash, knocking down the walls of the building, which were still standing, and buryinS the men who had before stool some chance of getting out alive.
 Work was immediately begun to extricate the living, and then attention was turned 10 tho dead. There was known to have been a least ten persons in the building when the boiler blew up. In half hour all of those still living had toon dug out None of them are thought to be dangerously wounded except I.ineman Schofeld. The physicians say it will be impossible for him to live. Two or three of the others are severely scal,lel.
 Superintendent T. Walter Embree's body was the last one to be recovered. It presen- ted ghastly appearance. A piece of iron or wood had struck him on the head, almost sev- srnG it. Mary Jones, the little school girl, was walking square away at the time of the explosion. heavy plank struck her aud crushed her skull She instantly killed. The ruins are being searched. The bodies of Webb and Bradley were not found until after dark. It is feared other bodies may be under the debris.
Connecticut western news., 1887-12-21
MADDOCKS OF BOOTHBAY.
A Maine Mans Pamphlet on the
 Fishery Question.

Luther Maddocks is Secretary of the National Fishery Association. He has issued pamph- let entitled ''No Surrender" which is very vigorous arraignment of what he calls"fooling with the fisheries question:" This is & state- ment of his position:
 Fishery Rights-So far as cod and halibut fisheries are concerned, American fishermen would not at the present time wish to engage i'll any operations for the capture of these spe cies inside of the three mile limit in British provincial waters, from which they are now excluded. The history of t.emackerel fishery for the last fifteen years shows most conclIs- lively that it is not only unprofitabe to attempt fishing by present methods inside of the exception the mackcrel fishery in the waters adjacent to the British provinces has been & most unprofitable one, as compared with the results obtained in the waters of the shores of the United States It is a well-established fact that the most important mackerel fishing grounds are off our own coast The fishermen ask, then to be protected in their rights under the treaty of ISIS as interpreted, not by them selves but by their Government, to this effect. namely, that they have not tho right, which until recently they have always enjoyed, to enter the Canadian ports within the limits de- fined, whether to buy bait CT supplies in the prosecution of their deep sea voyages, as dis tinguished from the fisheries prohibited with in three miles from the coast.
 Commercial Rights. fishermen ask that tillS pollCy Ol IctalldSiOIi, to WllCl euc SOH- gress of the United States is thus committed, shall be maintained with unyielding rigor, knowing we'll, as they do, that recognition of this fact by the Canadian authorities will of itself insure that security in their hazar dous calling so eagerly sought by the fisher men of tho United States.
 Protection by Legislation.-The whole ques- tion, so far as it re ates to American fisheries and their continuance national industry, comes to this: Either they mnst be protected by tariff, which shall prove mo restraint upon the competition of foreigners, or else in lieu of that legislation must provide them with a bounty equivalent to the loss they will be com pelled to meet if their markets arc left as they have been in the past. This statement does not apply to New England alone, as has been supposed by many, but it is equally ap- plicable to all fishing sections of this country, for it bears as directly upon fishermen of the Gulf of Mexico, of the South Atlantic coast, of Chesapeake Bay, or the Pacific, as it does upon him who follows the cod or the mackerel fishery from our New England ports.
Connecticut western news., 1887-12-21
IN CONGRESS.
Various Matters of Importance in
 Both Houses.


 Senator Reagan introduced a bill to regu- late immigration It authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to appoint Inspectors of Im- migration, to be stationed at such ports of en- try as he may deem proper, and to receive 'alary of S-- per day. The Secretary is di. 7ectcd to draft regulations for the landing of passengers and to protect them from imposi- iion. Power is conferred on the Inspectors of Immigration to board vessels and remove in- migrants temporarily for the purpose of ascer- taining whether they are prohibited from landing by this act. All unfit persons are Collector of the Port until returned to the country whence they came, the expense of their return to be borne by the owners of the vessels bringing them over. Before any immierant shall be permitted to land, the master of the vessel shall produce 8 certificate for each emigrant, certifying that he is not deported for crime, is not pauper, lunatic or idiot, not ill charge of blood rela- tions or authorized guardians, is not an as- sisted emlgrant and Is not under contract to labor in the United States. A bond shall be given as guarantee of dis criminate issuing of certificates on the part of the steamship company It is made unlawful for any person interdicted by the provisions of the net to enter the United States, or for a transportation company to bring him to this country.
 In answer to a resolution adopted by tue House at the close of the last session, the sec rctary of the treasury yesterday sent to that body communication embodying the results of the inquiry made by the supervising in- spector-general of steam vessels into the methods or constructing and heating passen- ger cars and steamboats. A circular was sent out in February. Two hundred and sixteen answers were received, which were classified as follows: Twenty-eight contemplated heat ing cars by steam from the locomotive, twen- ty-three by heat from an independent car, twenty-six heating by electricity, fifty-four heating by improved heaters or stoves, eight prevention of disaster by fire by means of specially constructed safety cars, one heating and lighting by gas and eighty-focr miscel- laneOuS.
Connecticut western news., 1887-12-21
GEN. LEAVENWORTH'S WILL.
Requests for Public Purposes thai
 May Never be Realized.

There is general public indignation in Syra- cuse over the discovery of the fact that the will left by Gen. E. w. Leavenworth is merely an empty boast of postmortem muniticence. The ostenslble purpose of the will Is to leave to the city for park improvements, public foun. ains, monuments, and semi nary for young women, to speak Of be quests to Yale, Hamilton and Syracuse Col leges and to . number of dependents, all the wealth, amounting to SJ0O.0OO, which Gen. Leavenworth had accumulated in his long life; but the property IS so entailed as to make the bequests practically delusive and of no avail. Under the will as published his widow, his nephew, the Dcphevs wife and grandnlece are the immediate heirs and are provided for. After their deaths. which in the natural course of events will not follow for thirty or forty years, the niece being only about 20 years of age, the property is to go to public and educa- tionsl purposes.
 The details for carrying out the beluests for these purposes are left in tho hands of citizens, who will be some of them 15O years old and over by the time some O! them arc likely to be called upon to fulfil their trusts. Altogether tho will is utterly ludicrous and were it not we'll known that Gen. LeaScnwortll was zane at his death it would be the more kindly thing to sny that his will was made under circumstances of mental derange- mcnt.
 Gen. Leavenworth in leaving tho property in this way has violated many sacred pledges which he had publicly made. Parks and groves and avenues had been named in his honor with the understanding that ho was to contribute hberally to their Identification.
 He had frequently written to the press to say what he proposed doing in tlc way of monumental record of historic features of the city. One of his promises was to erect ma-.. nifient portal over tho entrance to Oakwood Cemetery. This promise was made at a time wEcn he was under public criticism as tho residuary losatec of Mrs. General Granger whose affairs he managed and who disinherit cd all her relations to give her wealth to him Now that it is apparent that tNe provisions of the will are not worth the paper they arc writ ten on public indl gnation runs high.
Connecticut western news., 1887-12-21
THE NEW CABINET. The Published List of Frances New
 Ministers.

PARIS, D c. 12.-M. Tirard, yielding to Ere icnt Carn Us app' als, consented to make another attcmpt 10 organize Ministry. The following is the list:
 NJ. Ti-ard, Pres deut of tho Council, Minister of Finance, and Minister of Posts and Tcle- grapls.
 Gen. Logeiot Mi i,tcc of War.
 NJ. Fall.ercs, Minister of Justice.
 NJ. Flourcns, Minister of Foreign Affairs.
 NJ. Sarrien, M mister of the Interior.
 NJ. Dauresme, Minister of Commerce,
 M. Lou ct, Minister of Pu lie Works.
 M. dc Mahy, Minister of Marine.
 M. Niette, Minister of AGricu tgre.
 M Faye, Minister of Public Instructions.
 Of the new Cabinet NM. Trard, Falieres, Faye. de Mahy Lorbet, and Dautresme be- long to the Union of tho Left, and NM. Sar- rien and Viette bel ng to the more advanced group M Flourens and Gen. Logcrot are not members of the Chamber of Deputies.
 The new Cabinet held meeting at the Elysee Palace, when President Carnot read his message to Parliament. The me ssage is lengthy and refers to political questions, pointing out the path which the president would like to sec Parliament enter. After reminding the members of the c. ambers that his election was due to the spirit of conciiation produced among the members of the Con gross, ho expresses the hope that tho same sentiment will continue to prevail in both Houses.
 The D ssage relating to Frances foreign policy was couched i'll the most pacific terms. The Cabinets reply to this message will de clare that the Governments desire is to com mence the exhibition year with peace abroad and concord at homo and will demand as a question of confidence three provisional
Connecticut western news., 1887-12-21
ELECTRICITY VS. HORSE.
Experiments Tried at Boston on the
 Trotter, Gray Eagle.

Prof. R. H. Harrison, of the Harvard Veter- mary scho, showed how bolting horse. or one that has tendency to break, can be mas- tered by means of an electric shock admins tered by tse driver. Gray Eagle, trotter with record of 2.22, but with several bad habits, was brought to Prof. Harrison. This horse will take his bit in his teeth and make himself master of the situation whenever tho opportunity is afforded. Dr. Harrison took q small battery and extended two sight wires, terminating in small knobs, from it along the reins to tie bit of the bridle. At the will of the operator a shock of greater or less inten- sity can be given the horse, which can thus be made to understand whether he or his driver is master without doing any injury to tn. ami nal.
 The instrument was adplied to Gray Eagle and at the same time the utmost care was giv- en to use it only with the words whoa and steady, the first meaning to stophim in short distance only if trotting, or to stop short up if he is walking, the second to get on his feet if breaking. The animal, soon became docilo and the bolting took its place among the lost arts. Being given final trial under Prof Harrison's supervisor, he came to a halt from a 2.40 clip or walk with equal docility on hearing the word ''whoa, and gave over his breaking when the word steady was given. He was tried under circumstances cal culated to excite him. The experiment. has been tried in France, but never here before.
Connecticut western news., 1887-12-21
THE FISHERIES.
How the Question Stands in the
 High Commission.

The nterrupton of the negotiations by the Commissioners for the United States and Great Britain to settle the disputed fisheries question does not mean that the negotia ions have failed. The Commissioners on both sides refuse to give information to the press, but enough is learned about the progress made to justify the conclusion that B satisfactory settlement may yet be reached. If it is not, and the negotiations should be broken off at the point reached, the Anne, ican Commissi ners are in position every way crcditable to them and honorable to the country they represent. It seems that at the outset tho Commissioners for the United States submitted protocol requesting of Great Britain the admission of full commercial rights to American vessels in Canada, and the placing of all American and Canadian vessels on an equal footing for rights as to the navigation of the harbocs of bota the Dominion and the United States. This was met by Sir Charles Tupper, who has been the mouthpiece most of the time for the British Commissioners, with 8 proposition to not only concede the unre- stricted navigation of Canadian waters tC American vessels, but also to consent to per init Americans to enjoy the privi eges of the inshore fisheries, provided ths Americans will approve new treaty of reciprocity based upon the lines of the treaty of 1854. To u Is the American Commissioners demurred. They maintain that the rights for which the United States contends are naturally rights which | they cannot undertake to buy. The ln- shore fisheries they do not care for, and if they did they could not for mo- ment consider the proposition to purchase them, using means of concluding the sale the rights for which they arenow con- tending. Sir Charles Tupper, it is under stood, was determined to insist upon Q recip- rocity treaty no treaty. The Commissioners for the United States were willing to submit the proposition for recognition of equal com
 mercial privileges to arbitration. After the | Canadian re1resentatiye had exhausted his
 argument to secure consent to convention agreeing to an exchange of fish, lumber, and 1 oth.r products, the Americans standing firmly
 against anything like an attempt to argue them into sale of rights, it was decided to
 take recess long enough to enable the British Commissioners to visit Canada and make fur
 ther study of the situation from the Canadian ! int
Connecticut western news., 1887-12-21
THE ABERCORN ESTATE.
Three Hundred Tenants Buy One-
 third of the Property.

After friendly negotiations, 3O0 farmers nave bought their holdings on the Duke of Abercorn's estates in Tyrone and Donegal on twenty years purchase under the Ashbourne act. The amount involved is f30o, ,000 and the sale reduces the Duke of Abercorn's estate one-third.
 The Abcrcorn estate is in the southwest part of Tyrone and adjoining the eastern district of Donegal. Tho entiro estate comprises about 40 900 acres, valued at ESQ 900 year. As a rule the tenants are in good circumstan- c,s.
 The late Duke of Abcrcorn. when Lord Lieu tenant of Ireland, from 1866 to 1888, had a large family of beautiful unmarried daugh- ters, and during these years the Duke spent enormous sums ill social gaycties, with the result that his family is at P esent the most highly connected in the United Kingdom, the Duke of Buccleugh, the Marquis of Lands downc, the Earl of Mount Elgcumb, the late Earl of Durham. and the Duke of Marlbor- ough, whose wife obtained divorce from him some years ago for cruelty and adultery, be- ing all sons-in-law of the late Duke of Aber- corn. The present duke is dignifed little man, who is very popular amhns his tenants. He was member of Parliament for Donegal for many years, and earned the everlasting gratitude of the Donegal fishermen on the west coast by his interest in passing measures for their welfare.
Connecticut western news., 1887-12-21
The POStmaSterS' Convention,

The National Convention of third and fourth class postmasters at Washington adopted bill, to be hereafter formulated and presented to Congress, recommending that the Govern ment shall allow to postmasters of the third class all the revenue which may accrue from the rent of boxes in their offices; that the expense of rent, light and fuel be borne by the Government, and that the Govern ment allow to officers of the third class an amount sufficient to employ con- potent clerical force to properly conduct tho business of the office; that no Postmaster re- ceive 8 less compensation than S25 p r year. and that fourth-class Postmasters receivh 100 per cent of the first S10o of stamps cancelled, and 60 per cent of the next SlOO, 50'per cent. ance until the commission amounts to S25O cx- elusive of box rent; that when the commis- sion cancellations amount to 1000 per fiscal year, or when the gross receipts amount to meney-order business, it shall be declared a third-clnss office.
Connecticut western news., 1887-12-21
webstcr's Unabridged Dictionary.

Every family in which books, magazines or newspapers are read, and letters are written, should have an English dictionary. How of ten is a whole sentence made obscure because the reader does not know or has forgotten the meaning of some word or proper name. How often does a letter-writer hesitate over the correct spelling of some word whose ortho- graphical construction has, for the moment, escaped his memory. And how often do dis. putes arise over the proper nronunciation of this or that word. Ali these difficulties could be settled in a moment by the possession of a standard dictionary. Now, tse one great work which answers all requirements, and which is the standard authority in America. is. Web ster's Unabridged Dictionary, published by G. & c. Merriam & O., Springfield, Mass. This dictionary contains over 1lS,0O words, being 5000 more than are found in any other Ameri- can work of similar character. Its 3o0O il- jects. A space in itself equal to the dimen. sions of large volume is devoted to biograph ical geographical, and Scripture proper names noted names and places in fiction, frequently quoted sayings, found in the Latin, the Greek and modern foreign languages, Christi ian prop CT names with their equivalents in other Ian guages all the abbreviations and contraction: used in writing, a classified selection of man, hundred pictures, covering wide range o topics, etc. As an educator in itself, for young and old, Websters Unabridged Dictionary i certainly without rival in all the wide do. main of English literature.
Connecticut western news., 1887-12-21
JUSTICE STRIKES HARPER.
Ten Years in the Penitentiary for
 Wrecking the Fidelity Bank.

The close of the Harper trial at Cincinnati was dramatic in its suddenness. The end came like quick curtain upon tue last ot tragedy. More impressively fell on the com muni,y the swiftness of the punishment-ten years in the Penitentary-than the punish ment itself. Indeed, 1t was believed that the penalty would be greater than it was and that a cumulative sentence equivalent to lmprison- ment for life would be imposed.
 The startling part of it was that jury should be filing into United States Court room at seven minutes past ten o'clock, and that at five minutes past four prisoner such as the bank officer should be on board train starting for Columbus and the penitentiary. This was something unparalleled.
 The courtroom was crowded. At ten o'clock Judge Sage appeared alone. Jud- @ Jackson having been called to hold court in Cov;ngton. Court open'd and seven minutes later the jury filed in. As soon as they were seated Judge Sage asked if they man said they had. The Judge directed the clerk to receive it. At this point Mr. Black burn called the Courts attention to the ab- sence of the defendant.
 ssLet him be brought in," said the Judge. The distinguished looking prisoner entered with Lis wife and sister-in-law, Miss Matthews. i He wore dark. cutaway coat and bright | necktie blue with white stripes. His collar | was turned down and his hair vas parted in l the middle.
 ! | ed tears coursed down his checks but he heard | the words, Guilty, as charged in the indict- ment" without the move of muscle or any | indication of sob.
 | Mr. Blackburn moved an arrest of judgment, which the Court ove-ruled. Then District | Attorney Barnett moved for the immediate ! sentence and that the sentence be cumulative. Judge Sage in a somewhat long opinion stated the result of his investigation of the ques ion of cumulative sentences in a case like this and gave some relief to the suddenness of the blow upon Mir. Harpers family. He finally overrulcd tho motion and asked II the defendant had anything 10 say before sentence was pronounced upon him.
 MT. Blackburn arose and said that the de fendant wished to speak through him and tt say that he had nothing to add to what had been said, except to thank the Court for it.
 fair and impartial treatment and to ask tha the Court would be merciful as the circum stances and the law would permit.
 When Harper to receiva sentence hi
 face was still wet with silent weeping, but h.
 stood erect and firm in every inch of his com
 manding figure.
 Judge Sage with impressive solemnity rea'
 the sentence. He said the evidence left no doub
 of the defendants guilt and that tn" offence mer
 i:ed the highest penalty of the law which tn
 Court would now imposc-ten years in tn
 Ohio Penerentiary, and that the Marshal con
 vey him 'hither at once.